minoritas

Forms

minōritās f (genitive minōritātis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin minor² (“smaller, less”) + -tās.^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The DMLBS's earliest citation is a letter of Robert Grosseteste (c. 1239), on whether a right of patronage changes with the greater or smaller size of the thing it concerns.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was coined as the opposite of maioritas, with which it is often paired.^[3][4][5] It meant a smaller amount or a decrease, the lower value of depreciated money, and the shorter length of days;^[3][6] in law it was the state of being under age.^[6][7][5] It could also mean a lower rank or a lesser importance.^[5][8]

English minority was taken from French minorité or directly from the Medieval Latin word in the 1530s.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 1239 – Robert Grosseteste uses it of a smaller amount.^[3]
• 1339 – Köbler dates the word to this year.^[2]
• 1437 – A Hungarian charter shares a legacy by the greater or smaller size of the churches.^[4]
• 1530s – English borrows it as minority, “the state of being smaller”.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) A smaller amount or number; a decrease.^[6][3][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) The lower value of money.^[3]
3. (Medieval Latin) Shorter length or duration.^[3]
4. (Medieval Latin) Minority, the state of being under age.^[6][7][5]
5. (Medieval Latin) A lower rank or condition; lesser importance.^[5][8]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d e f g Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
5. ^ a b c d e f du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
6. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Latinitatis medii aevi lexicon Bohemorum / Slovník středověké latiny v českých zemích (1977–), Prague: Academia; electronic version, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com